Pattern mechanism for knitting-machines.



E'l B. WXLDMAN L G1 LE BALLARD.

PATTERN MBGHANISM PQR KNLTTXNG MAGHmBs.

APYLICTIGN FILED APx'i. 28, F310.

1,065,487. Patented June 24, 19m.

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B. WLDMAN l G. L. BALLARD. PATTERN Mm'ANsM ma KNIT-TIN@ MAUHNBs.

Patented June 24, 1913.

4 SHEETSASHEET 2.

F. B. WILDMAN &. G. L. BALLARD. PATTERN MBGHANISM FOR` KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION LED APR.ZB,1S10. 1,065,487. Patented June 24, 1913.

4SHEETS*SHEET 3.

(Hitmix UTED STATES ltliilii-elii? FRANK B. WILDMAN AND GEORGE L, IBLLARE, GEF KERISTGWE, ENL-Tl.,

ASSIGNORS TG WILDMAN MFG. Cif.,

PATTERN MECHANIM FOB, ENITTNGJCHEN Specification al Letters Patent. gragggune g,

Application ledprll 28,' 1916. Serial Ee. 553,23@

Gieat Britain,respectively, and residents of Norristown, Pennsylvanin,' have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pattern Mechanisms for Knittingtlachines, of which the following is a specification.

@ur invention relates to pattern meetmnismY for knit-ting machines ct the general type disclosed in Letters Patent ot' the UnitedI States granted to F. B. l/Vildinan,

November 1, 1898, #613346, and itl consists in the features and combination and arn rangementof partis hereinafter described and particularly pointed ont in the claims.

l'n the accompanying drawings: Figure l is nside elevation of a part. of a knitting head with-our improvement. in place thereon; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the pattern mechanism of Fig. 1, with parts in section; Fig. 3 is a View in the nature of a diagram showing the pattern Wheel' and levers colin Gra-ting therewith, Fig. Il is a view looking from .the right of Fig. 1, with parts in section and parts in elevation; Figs. 5, 7, S, i) and 10 are views ot' detail parts.'

In these drawings, 1 is the pattern Wheel having pattern blocks 2 to operate a lever 3 pivoted to the frame, and controlling the vertical position of a disk 4 which, when'in certain positions, will operate certain levers on the knitting head when broughtintc contact` therewith the revolution of the knit ting head.A Thispattern `wheel is fixed on the shaft 5v snit-ably jomnaled in the fixed frame G. @n this shaft is tixeda pattern' ratchet 7, and it carries also, though loosely, e measuring ratchet 8, and between these two there is arranged a measuring gear ,wheel 9; this being mounted on e, rim 10 of the measuring ratchet and connected with Said ratchet by friet-'ion springs 1l, the tension of which v'may be varied by screws 12 mounted in the ratchet, hy which construction the measuring ratchet may move inde pendent-ly of the gear, but on the other hand the gear, when moved, will turn the nieasnring ratchet.. The pattern ratchet. if.: moved step by step by a pawl 13, Figs. L1 and hut shown broken away in Fig. 2. This pawl is the frame, and operated by asuit-able connection toa moving part of the knitting Ulli? pivoted to a slide llt movable in hearings in head` e ort-ion of which connection-:s shown '1111s moves tine slide to the at 15 in Fig. 1. left, while a spring 113 nieves said slide to the right. 'l he measuring ratchet is operated by paw-l 12"' piveted on the same pin with the pa'wl 1S. and the measnrin gear Wheel Y 1s operated through n train o. gears indi'- eet-ed enerally at from e. Wheel or roller 19 et i card clothing, and which is morro hifthe fabric :is it down to the tekoop.

The pawl 'tij of the patern ratchet. is control-led as to the times it. enge-ges end moves said ratchet. :hitahle eeiantroller 20,. consisting of a pivoted oneu lever21, which is mou on the hearing 22 of the freine, and is prcinied with e weighted extension tenting to keep the lever 21 and the controller at. the letivard limit of their movement. as indicated in Figs. 1, 2 and" 5. With the parte in this position, and considerinvf the fact that the pan-l 13 is at the left- Waro limit of its throw, it will' he seen that when the pearl moves to ie right to engage a new tooth on the ratei' a., it will ride up on this cont er. and will thus he prevented from dropping" flown into the said tooth, and as long ae the p ts are in this relation, the pawl will reciprocate idly and will not turn the pattern ratchet, and consequently the pattern .vheel will remain at rest..

From it will he seen that the controller i2() works clos slongside the pattern ratchet- 7, and thetthe end of the paWl 13 extends over the odge of? the pattern ratchet and over the edge of the controller to rest thereon. The coi roller is acted upon-bf pins 24;, which. an; .i rewed into the holes 25 of the pattern ratchet, there being one of said holes: for each rate-hettooth, and the pins being placed therein in such number and relation es the netter-n may dennind. In

and the controller-ere shown at the starting point, e. at that nciht where the pattern is to he started, the said. controller now beingV raised ande froup ot three of the pins 24' being-in position to act; upon the controller. For retin ting the controller to allow the pattern ratchet peel to e the pattern. 'etchet and turn the pattern Wheel, ive emern leve 2G pivoted to the by a rink with the et lever 2i, and the other' arm 26 of which has a beveled end .28 to he he seen that the group of three pins on the acted on by controlling blocks 2S) fixed on themieasuring ratchet, and having inclined or cam shaped surfaces 30 to act on the heveled end of the said -lever arm 2(3 to lift the same, and thus through the link QT and lever 21 to retract the cont-roller 2O so that, in the next movement of the pawl 13 to the right, it will engage the pattern ratchet and turn the same. This lever Q6 is pivoted to` the frame at 31, its pivot pin, however, being broken away in Fig. 2.

It will he noticed that one of the controller blocks or segments is different. from the others in that it is provided with an extension '29'. This segment is for starting the pattern and only when this segment comes to work upon the lever arm 26 can the pattern be started by the starting of the pattern ratchet from the posit-ion of Figs. l and 5, for it will he noticed that with the arrangement of the group of three pins it requires the presence of the extension 29 of the controlling segment to hold the operating lever 26'( raised, and the controller 20 retracted during a sufficient length` of time to allow the pattern ratchet pawl to act. rl'he throw of the controller' 2U caused by any of the segments is within the lilnits of the three pins 24 shown under the controller in Figs. 1 and 5, and when the controller is thrown back through the operation of the long segment 29', it will still be held up by these pins, but it will he retained in its rearward position a sufficient lengt-h of time for the operation of the pattern ratchet pawl. This will not he the case, however, if the parts should get. out of time and one of the other controlling segments shouldcome around against the lever Q8 when the pattern ratchet is in the position shown ready to start the-pat tern. Should such out of time action occur hy one ofthe other segments coming into play against the lever 26", the controller' 20 would he retracted to its full limit, but it would immediately return to its forward Vposition and prevent the pattern ratchet pawl from engaging the pattern ratchet, because this controlling segment, having no extension such as Q9 would allow the lever arm 26 to drop down at. once after being lifte by the end of the lever) riding over the short bearing surface 29 at the top of the, segment. The extent of hearing surface ati'orded by the group of three pins at t e starting point will hold the controller u so that,l with the short segment, the controller will simply move back and then immediately ret-urn to its controlling position to prevent the pawl 18 from engaging the ratchet, whereas with the starting segi, ment having the extension, it will be held back long enough to allow the; patternratchet pawl to do its work. It will thus the pattern ratchet, no movement of the latter will take place until, in the movement of the measuring ratchet, the proper timing of thc parts is again secured, the controller being on the group of three pins when the starting segment, with its extension 29, works against. the lever 26'. The other segments 29 having the short l'iearing surfaces are intended to coperate with individually disposed pins 24, which act not as a group, hut singly upon the controller 2O to lift it up into controlling position, z'. e. the position shown in which it provides an edge for the pat-tern ratchet pawl to ri/de on. When the controller therefore is resting on one of these single pins, the pattern-ratchet pawl will be prevented from engaging its ratchet until one of the short. surfaced controlling segments 29 comes around, and lifts the lever arm 2G, this will retract the controller 20 olf of the single pin, and said controller will therefore fall and lexpose the next tooth of the lpattern ratchet to he engaged by the pawl 13, and the said ratchet will be turned, thereby turningthc ratchet wheel. The n'leasuring-ratchet, moved in either one of two ways, zic/,fit is given a slow measuring movement through the gearing 1S and gear 9 from the fabric impelled wheel 15), and it. is given a qiiick measuring movement when its p-,iwl 17 engages its teeth, the said pawl 17 reciprocat.-

ing constantly with the slide har 14. i

For controllingthe engagement of the measuring pawl with its ratcl'iet, we employ "fins ft2 screwed into threaded openings 33, one 'for each ratchet tooth in the .face ofthe measuring ratchet, the said pins being fdisposed in such places and in such number as the pattern requires. ll`hese pinsactirpon an arm 534 fixed to the. measuring ratchet pawl, and by riding thereunder lift said pawl ont. of engagement with its ratchet, and thusl stop the quick measuring movements thereof, the said measuring ratchet then advancing slowly by the measuringr gear through the friction connection he- 'tween them, which, as above indicated, will allow the measuringr ratchet to be advanced ahead of the measuring gear when the quick movement takes place. The measuring pawl ha ving hren lifted from its ratchet h v one of the pins 3Q, the ratchet is moved slowly forward in the direction of the arrow by the gearing. until the arm 34 is about to drop off of the pin, and then the measuring ratchet is given a 'definite or decided advance movement by a supplemental measuring paw] 35 pivoted to an extension of the arm 34, and engaging a lug 36 on the controlling segment, when the slow measured movement of the ratchet wheel brings this lug into position to be engaged by the /supplemental pawl. This lug, as the measuring ratchet is turned, rides under the supplemental pawl, holding it up until the lug passes beyond the front end ot the pawl, when the same drops quickly, and upon the next movement to the left the pawl en gages the lug and gives a definite movement to the measuring wheel, thus ,setting it in position to be e gaged by the main measuring pawl 17, W ich then moves the measuring ratchet step by step until the next pin 32 comes beneath the arm 34, and lifts the pawl, thus stopping the quick measuring movement. The pins 32 may be arranged in groups or unbroken series, and we have shown, for instance, two of such pins adja cent one of the controlling;y segments. These pins determine the starting point ot the slow measuring movement, and to some extent the length of said movement, n other words, they ldetermine the approximate length of the. slow measured movement, but the exact paint at which the slow'measuring movement ceases is determined b v the position of the controlling segment, the stop or lng on which is engaged by the supple mental pawl 35 to start the. quick movement and bring the main measuring pawl 17 into action. The controlling segments are ad justahle by the screw and slot connection at 3o by which nicety of adjustment of the lug 3G in relation to the pins 32 may be secured, for determining the length of the measuring n'xovements,

For turning the pattern wheel independently of the ratchet wheel, a handle is prof vided at 37 connected rigidly with the shaft 5, and for turning the measuring ratchet by hand we provide a hand wheel .38, these being the usual devices provided for such purposes. In addition to the pattern blocks or segments 2 fixed on the. pattern wheel, we have shown other pattern segments or blocks which are movably mounted on said wheel shown at 39. These are adapted to move radially, being held by the screws l0 passing through slots 4l into the pattern Wheel, and being guided by the' striping kpins 42 passing through slots in the plates said pins controlling the devices for operatin.;r the yarn carriers, These movable plates are arranged on the opposite sides of the wheel from the fixed plates or segments, and in the revolution of the pattern wheel they are brought into position for use. They are brought beneath the roller 3 on the level' 3, and then, by moving them one wardly, they will act on said roller and lift. the lever 3 to a greater height than given by the cams 2 for changing the pattern, for instance, for tueking. They are moved radially by a lever 43 pivoted at 44 to the maehine frame, and having a laterally projecting pin 45 over which the plates 3S) are `brought b v the movement of the pattern wheel. This laver is operated to move the pattern plate radially outward by a supple 70 mental pattern wheel 4G having pins 47 thereon to depress the said lever 43. This supplemental pattern wheel is operated step by step by a ratchet wheel 48 fixed on its shaft and by a pawl #i9 carried by the slide 75 14. it will be seen from this construction that when the pattern wheel reaches Such a position that the. movable pattern plate or segment thereon is over the pin 45, the operation ot the lever will cause the pattern segment to be moved out to operate the pattern lever and this action can take place while the pattern wheel is at rest. A-single patternsegment may be mounted on the pattern wheel or where. an extended pattern surface is desired, a series of these plates may be employed, and in this case We interlock the plates bv a projection on one fitting in a recess in the other, so that when any plate is lifted, all those in rear thereof will also be lifted as one body, thus positioning the inner edges ot all the following plates to coincide with the inner edge of the plate which is directly lifted so that these plates. can pass over the pin 45.

'lhe lever 50 is the striping lcverfor V0pcrating connections for introducing a striping thread. lt is pivoted to the frame at 5l, and operates a rod connected with a pin 5? which operates the striping attach- 100 ment. The lever'O is operated by the striping pins 42 carried by the pattern wheel, which pins ride under and lift the said lever. Thtse pins can be used in conjunction with the movable pattern plates and thus tucking and striping can proceed simultaneously.

le claim as our invention l. ln combination in a pattern mechanism tor knitting machines, a fixed frame, a pat- 11o tern Wheel, a pattern ratchet' with a pawl for operating the same, a ratchet measuring wheel having segments thereon, a pawl for operating the ratchet measuring whe-el, a measuring gear Afor operating the ratchet measuring wheel, a fabric ixiniielled wheel, connections from the fabric impelled wheel for ojierating the measuring gear to give it and the measuring ratchet a slow movement, a controller tor the pawl of the patv tern ratchet and a lever pivoted to the fixed trame and independent ot' the pawl of the ratchet measuring wheel operated by the segments cn the measuring ratchetv for op erating the controller, substantially as de- 125 scribed.

ln combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel, a pattern ratchet with a paul for operating the same, a ratchet measuring wheel having seg- 139 ments thereon. a pawl for' operating said ratchet wheel, a controller for the pau'l of the pattern ratchet, an arm carrying said controller nuunted on the shaft of the pat-- tern wheel. a lever pivoted to the frame independent. ot the pawl ot' the ratchet measuring wheel .and operated by thel segments on the measuring ratchet, and a link connecting said lever with the said arm, substantially as described.

3. In combination, in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel, a pattern ratchet and Vpawl for operating the sa me, a measuring wheel, means for driving the same, a controller' for the pattern ratchet pawl, means for operating the-controller ditterentially, comprising positioning devices on the pattern ratchet ot different lengths of hearing surface to act on the controller` and segments on the measuring ratchet ot different lengths of hearingsurface and connections operated by the said segment-s and connected to the controller, whereby the. pattern mechanism will be prevented from starting until a positie-ning device ot long hearing surface' and a segment of long bearing surface act simultaneously upon the controller and the controller con net-.tions respectively, substantially as de.- soribed.

4. ln combination in a pattern mechanism tor knitting machines, a pattern Wheel, a pattern ratchet and pawlfor operating the same, a measuring ratchet and means for operating the same, a controller for the pattern ratchet pawl, said controller being operated from the pattern ratchet and measuring wheel jointly for the step by step movement. of the pattern wheel, and starting means carried partly by the pat-tern ratchet and part-ly by the measuring wheel to opcrate on the controller when said devices are in a ,certain position'relative to each other, .substantially as described.

5. In` combination in pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel, a pattern ratchet and pawl for operating the same, a controller for the pattern ratchet pawl. positioning` pins on thel ratchet wheel tcrholding the controller ,up in cont-rolling position, a .group osaid pins being arranged at the point. ot starting the pattern,

a measuring wheel and controlling blocks or segments on the measuring wheel, one of which -has an elongated bearing surface to cooperate with the group of pins for controlling-the controller, and the other or others of the said segments having shorter bearingv surfaces to enact with the single pins, and means for operating the` controller by contact. with the said segments, substantially as described. Y

In combination in a pattern.mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel. a ratchet and pawl for operating the same, a

controller for the said pawl, short and long bearing surfaced positioning devices on the ratchet for positioning the controller, a measuring wheel and short and long bear- I, ing surfaced controlling blocks or segments on the measuring Wheel to cooperate with the positie-ning devices, 'and connections to be operated by the controlling segments for operating the controller', the pattern heilig started only when the long bearing surfaced controlling segment is in position to eooperate with the. long bearing positioning device, substantially as described.

7. In combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel, a pattern ratchet Awith a pawl for operating the same, a measuring wheel, a cont-roller for the. pawl of the pattern ratchet, a pawl for operating the measuring wheel, pins on said measuring wheel to lift the measuring pawl out of operation, controlling segments on the measuring wheel, connections leading therefrom to the controller for operating the same, and a supplemental pawl moving with the pau'l of the measuring wheel and acting against a portion ot the controlling segments for moving the measuring wheel, substantially as described.

8. In combination in` a pat-tern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel,

a pattern ratchetwith a pawl for-operating the same, a measuring wheel, a controller for the pawl of the pattern ratchet, a pawl for operating the measuring vwheel, 'pins on said measuring wheel to lift the measuring pawl out of operation, controlling segments on the measuring wheel. connections leading therefrom to the controller for operating the same, and a supplemental pawl moving wit-h the pawl of the measuring wheel and acting against a portion of the controlling segments for moving the measuring Wheel. `the said controlling segment being adjust-ableto vary the 4length of measuring movement of the measuring wheel, substantially as' described.

9. In combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines. a pattern Wheel, a ratchet and pawl for operatingr said wheel, a controller for the, said pawl, a measuring Wheel, a pa wl for. operating the same to give it e a quick movement, a. measuring gear wheel for giving the measuring wheel a slow movement, pins on the measuring Wheel for lifting the measuring pawl` segments on the measuringr wheel. connections operated thereby for operating the controller', said segmentshaving luu's. and a supplemental pawl movin;T with the measuring' pawl to act aojainst` the lugs of the segments., sub--A stantially 'as described.

10.,In a pattern mechanism for knitting machines. a pattern Wheel having blocks thereon. means for moving the patternvheel, a second set of blocks mounted on the pat.-

tern wheel and movable .radially thereof, and supplemental pattern mechanism supported on the frame and to and from which the radially movable pattern blocks are moved by the revolution of the wheel, said supplemental pattern mechanism operating the radially movable pattern blocks when they are brought in register with the sup- -plemental pattern mechanism, substantially as described.

11. In a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, the combination of a pattern wheel, radially movable pattern blocks thereon, and automatic means for moving the said 'blocks radially, said means consisting of a lever pivoted on the frame andto which the blocks are brought bythe movement. of

the wheel, ywith means for voperating the lever, Substantially as described.

l2. In pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel having radi-.illy movable blocks mounted thereon, said blocks having lugs for interlocking said blocks with leach other, and pattern controlled means for moving the blocks radially, each block, when moved, moving the following block therewith, substantially as described.

13. In pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel, radially movable blocks thereon having lugs engaging the adjacent blocks, and/pattern controlled means erating meansonthe frame, substantially as described; t

l5. In combination a pattern \vheel,'means for moving it step by step, pattern blocks movable. radially of the said wheel, and means supported on the frame for moving said pattern blocks when brought thereto in the step by step movement of the wheel.

In testimony whereof, we alix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. lVI LDMAN. GEORGE L. BA LLARD.. "itncsses:

lmmnwrn K. HUI/rox, limfrii C. Fiumi. 

